Kristina Groves crowned Canadian Champion in the 3000m, Lucas Makowsky wins Canadian Title in the 5000m

Kristina Groves (Ottawa, ON) was awarded the highest honors in the women's 3000m today at the Canadian Single Distance Championships. Groves was able to surpass her rivals by skating the distance in a time of 4:11.79 minutes. Lucas Makowsky (Regina, SK) ranked in first in the men's 5000m with a time of 6:39.32 minutes.

The second best performance of the day in the women's 3000m was by Clara Hughes (Winnipeg, MB) who completed the distance in 4:14.36 minutes. Brittany Schussler (Winnipeg, MB) finished in third place with a time of 4:19.59 minutes. Christine Nesbitt (London, ON) finished 0.70 seconds behind Schussler, missing the podium only by a fraction of a second. Shannon Rempel (Winnipeg, MB) came in fifth.

"Traditionally, I am better in the 1000m and 1500m. But I have been training and improving my 3000m a lot lately. I think it was a solid race today. It was exactly what I was looking for to accomplish. I'm so happy with this performance," said a smiling Brittany Schussler. Thanks to her accomplishment in the 3000m and by finishing among the top five skaters, Brittany Schussler is now qualified to race the distance for the rest of the season on the World Cup circuit.

In the men's 5000m, Denny Morrison (Fort St. John, BC) came in second with a time of 6:43.37 minutes. Steven Elm (Red Deer, AB) ranked in third finishing behind Denny Morrison with less then a second. Jay Morrison (Fort St. John, BC) ended in fourth place, skating the distance in 6:47.43 minutes.In his second competition in his career in long track, Mathieu Giroux (Montreal, QC) surprised everyone to finish in fifth.

"I have been on the short track team for four years. But in 2006, I injured my ankle and had to go through a surgery. Skating on the short track is very demanding on the ankles. It's not the case on the long track as the turns are not has sharp. I have been thinking of switching for about a year. It was not until I injured myself last September that I decided to make the switch. At one year before the Olympics, it was now or never to do it," explained Mathieu Giroux. "So, I made the jump to the long track. I had my first competition at the beginning of December. It was then that I qualified for the Canadian Championships. » By finishing fifth and only after a month competing on the long track, Mathieu Giroux is now qualified to participate in the World Cup circuit.